Matthew 25 is Deploying their Disaster Response Team to Provide Rapid Response Supplies to the Impacted Areas

Who: Matthew 25: Ministries

What: Disaster Response

When: Thursday, January 11, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM departure

Where: Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242

Why: Responding to Severe Weather Damage across the Southeast

JANUARY 10, 2024 BLUE ASH, OH – Matthew 25: Ministries, a humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Blue Ash, OH is responding to a series of destructive storms with tornadoes, heavy rain and powerful winds that ripped through the Southeast on Monday and Tuesday of this week, leaving behind a trail of destruction and causing several fatalities.  The National Weather Service has confirmed at least three tornadoes across the Florida Panhandle, with wind gusts as high as 106 mph.  Storms that surged across southeastern Alabama and southwestern Georgia generated winds with speeds of up to 70 mph and hail the size of baseballs.  More severe weather including hail, wind and possible tornadoes is expected throughout the Midwest, South and Southeast through this weekend.

Matthew 25: Ministries is deploying their Disaster Response Team on Thursday, January 11 along with an assortment of vehicles including the P&G customized panel truck and a Matthew 25 disaster response truck.  The team will distribute supplies such as P&G personal care kits, baby supplies, paper products, Zevo insect repellant and additional supplies including garbage bags, cleaning supplies, first aid and safety supplies provided by Cintas. Additionally, Matthew 25 will deploy the Duracell PowerForward truck equipped to carry as many as 20,000 Duracell batteries as well as on-board charging stations for mobile devices.  While there, Matthew 25 will conduct damage assessments and communicate with partners in the area to evaluate how they can best serve the ongoing needs of the disaster region.

Matthew 25 is also requesting monetary and product donations to supplement existing supplies and for restocking during their response to this current and future disasters.

Monetary donations: Donate online or mail checks to Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242 (100% of donated funds designated for the 2024 January Severe Weather Outbreak will be used for the purpose intended).

Product donations – The following product donations will be accepted at our facility located at 11083 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242:

• • Cases of bottled water (12- and 24- count)
  • Personal care products: Antibacterial soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, etc.
  • Cleaning supplies: Laundry detergents, general cleaner, sponges, bleach (powdered form is preferred), mops, scrub brushes, buckets, rubber gloves, etc.
  • Paper products: Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
  • Baby and infant supplies: Diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, baby wash, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc.
  • First-aid items: Bandages, gauze, pads, first aid tape, antiseptic creams, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, latex gloves, instant cold packs, etc.
  • Candles and flashlights: If necessary, please include the appropriate size batteries with any flashlight donation.
  • Clean-up supplies: Protective eyewear, work gloves, trash bags etc.

Matthew 25 responds to disasters domestically and internationally and provides both rapid response and long-term support. In 2023, Matthew 25 responded to disasters including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hurricanes Idalia and Otis, wildfires in Hawaii, Syria and Turkey earthquakes, and additional storms, floods and tornadoes.  Matthew 25 is continuing response for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which has now surpassed 600 days. Matthew 25: Ministries shipped over 33 million pounds of supplies in 2023, including over 12.5 million pounds of disaster relief, and helped more than 40 million people.

For the most current information on Matthew 25: Ministries’ activities, please visit their website https://m25m.org/disaster/sevweatherjan24 or follow Matthew 25 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/m25m.org, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/m25m_org/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/M25M_org. For more in-depth information about Matthew 25: Ministries’ humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, please contact Michelle Jones mjones@m25m.org.

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts cash, check, credit card and online donations for ongoing humanitarian aid and disaster relief programs, as well as product donation support. Matthew 25 also welcomes volunteers six days a week at their Blue Ash facility.

ABOUT MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES: Matthew 25: Ministries rescues and reuses approximately 20,000,000 pounds of products each year and redistributes them to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Each year, Matthew 25: Ministries impacts the lives of more than 25,000,000 individuals throughout the United States and around the world. Matthew 25 is included on Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Top 100 Charities, is a 4-star nonprofit on Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum-Level Candid Exchange seal. Matthew 25: Ministries is accredited by the Better Business Bureau through the “Wise Giving Alliance Standards.” For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Michelle Jones mjones@m25m.org at Matthew 25: Ministries (513) 793-6256, or visit https://m25m.org/.